India finally clinched their first ICC Cricket World Cup trophy in 13 years by defeating South Africa by seven runs in an exhilarating final at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. South Africa, despite their strong efforts, fell short of claiming their first world title, facing disappointment against India’s formidable bowling attack in a match filled with dramatic shifts on Saturday.

South Africa appeared in control of the chase, needing 71 runs from 45 balls with six wickets intact and Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen at the crease.

Despite the odds, India remained determined to secure their second T20 World Cup title. Hardik Pandya made a decisive impact by dismissing Klaasen in his first over and then took a crucial catch on the long-off boundary to remove David Miller, thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s brilliant fielding.

Bumrah also played a pivotal role, delivering key breakthroughs just when needed, showcasing his knack for breaking partnerships at crucial junctures.

While Pandya dealt with the threat of Klaasen, Bumrah’s inswinging delivery that bowled out Marco Jansen proved to be a game-changer, paving the way for India’s victory.

Virat Kohli emerged from obscurity to rescue India in their recent match against South Africa. Despite losing their captain Rohit Sharma early in the game, and facing setbacks with the dismissals of Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav within the first five overs, South Africa appeared confident in their efforts.

However, they underestimated Virat Kohli, renowned for his consistent performances in ICC World Cups over the last decade. Despite criticisms of his recent form in the tournament, the 35-year-old batsman rose to the occasion. He began steadily, capitalizing on Jansen’s shaky start by hitting two boundaries early on. Throughout the initial overs, Kohli maintained momentum for India, consistently rotating the strike amidst falling wickets.

Axar Patel’s aggressive batting further stabilized India’s innings, as he smashed four sixes and a four in a brisk 31-ball 47. Following Patel’s dismissal, which momentarily slowed India’s scoring, Kohli took charge. He accelerated from 50 runs off 48 balls to 76 off 59, guiding India to a competitive total for the World Cup final.

Shivam Dube also contributed with a quick 27 off 16 balls before falling to Anrich Nortje, who stood out among South Africa’s pace bowlers. Despite some economical bowling from Maharaj and a subdued performance by Rabada, Kohli’s resilience and strategic play ensured India set a formidable target.

Jansen conceded 49 runs in his four overs, while Rabada managed just one wicket for 36 runs. Maharaj claimed two wickets in three overs, while his spin partner Shamsi remained wicketless.